Method for producing plastic encased articles



y 29, 1956 F. H. MAGNUS 2,747,230

METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC ENCASED ARTICLES Filed April 24. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m [i illlqlmllll W/% w Fmw b. Nam w;

May 29, 1956 F. H. MAGNUS 2,747,230

METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC ENCASED ARTICLES Filed April 24. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm 4 A0 2 I ,6 z E May 29, 1956 F. H. MAGNUS METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC ENCASED ARTICLES Filed April 24. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC ENASED ARTICLES Finn H. Magnus, Essex Fells, N. .1.

Application April 24, 1952, Serial No. 284,157

3 Claims. (Cl. 18- 59) My invention relates to a method for producing plastic encased articles, and more particularly, to a method for encasing a decorative article such as a picture, leaf, flower or the like in a transparent plastic block.

If an article which is to be encased in a plastic form is directly exposed to the heat and pressure incident to a molding operation, it is likely that the article will be scorched or distorted out of shape, that its natural color will be lost and that the article will be displaced in the mold cavity, displacement in the mold cavity being especially likely when an injection molding process is used. When a decorative article is to be encased in a transparent plastic form and the resulting product used for purposes of display, it is of course necessary that the original shape and color of the decorative article be retained and that the article occupy a predetermined desirable position in its plastic encasement.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of my invention to provide a method particularly suitable for encasing decorative articles in a plastic form, which method assures that such decorative articles retain their original shape and color.

It is another object of my invention to provide a method for producing a plastic encased article which method incorporates novel and improved means for assuring a desired predetermined position of the article in its plastic. encasement.

, Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the course of the specification develops.

To attain the objects and advantages of my invention, I placean article which is to be encased in plastic between the halves of a preliminary plastic form adapted to receive the article. I cement these halves together to enclose the article in such preliminary form and place the preliminary form with the article enclosed in a mold cavity. preparatory tothe commencement of a molding operation. .The preliminary form with the article enclosed therein is molded into the desired plastic form at a temperature and pressure just sufiicient to erase the outline of the preliminary form. I The preliminary form has a plurality of lugs formed thereon for maintaining the article in a desired position in the mold cavity during the molding operation.

In the accompanying drawings, one product, namely a plastic, encased picture and the method of making it isdepicted in 1 to 16. Modified forms of my invention are shown in Figs. 17 mm. Fig. 1 is a-perspective view of an assembled mold which is broken away to show the preliminary form positioned in the mold cavity. Fig.2 isasectional view of the mold of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner of its disassembly. Fig. 3' is an end view of the, preliminary form preparatory to its inse'rtion'in the mold cavity. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mold of Fig. 1. showing the preliminary form positioned in the mold before assembly. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the assembled mold with the preliminary form positioned in the mold cavity. Fig. 6 is a sectional view 2. taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the points at which molten plastic enters the mold cavity. Fig. 7 is a top plan view taken on the line 77 of the assembled mold of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a top plan view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the assembled mold showing the mold cavity and its associated conduit means as they appear the completion of a molding operation. .Fig. 10 is a top plan view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an end view of opposite sheets of the preliminary form and of the picture enclosed thereby, the parts being shown separated one from the other. Fig. 12 is a top plan viewshowing the picture enclosed between opposite sheets of the preliminary form. Fig. 13 is a top'plan view of the assembled preliminary form apart from the mold cavity. Fig. 14 is an end view of the assembled preliminary form of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 isa top plan view of a molded plastic block before removal of additional plastic formed thereon asincident to the molding operation. Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a completed plastic block shown apart from the mold. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the plastic block of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the assembled moldwith a preliminary form peculiarly adapted to enclose a leaf and flowshown positioned in the mold cavity. Fig. 19 is a perspectiveview of a plastic block having a leaf and flow encasedtherein. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of an assembled mold showing a preliminary form enclosing a ball positioned in the mold,

cavity, which mold cavity is peculiarly adapted for the encasement of such article. r

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring tothe drawings, reference character 1 designates a mold having an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3, which portions are separable one from the other but which portions are also disposed in parallel relationship to each other with face 4 of portion 2 flush with face 5 of portion 3 when the mold is in its assembled state. Mold 1 as assembled includes both a mold cavity 6 extending into upper portion 2 and lower portion 3, and a passage or sprue 7 alsoextendinginto portions 2 and 3, which passage includes a gate 8 at one end having a plurality of nozzle-like passageways 9, which passageways connect with'mold cavity 6. During a molding operation, mold faces 4 and 5 of portions 2 and 3 are held tightly against one another by jaws 10 of an injection molding machine such that faces 4 and '5 accurately and rightly contact with each other to prevent the escape of molding material therebetween. Mold portion 3 is held in some suitable manner in a fixed position with respect to lower jaw 10, while suitable means such as guide pins 11 are provided for holding mold portion 2 against lateral movement with respect to mold portion 3. Passage 7 extends through lower jaw lfl to connect with a supply of molten plastic.

Reference characters 20 and 21 designate opposite sides of a preliminary form 23 suitable for enclosing a picture 24 therein. Preliminary form 23 has a plurality of lugs 25' formed thereon for spacing the preliminary form in a desired manner with respect to the walls of mold cavity 6.'

Assuming that it is desired toencase a picture 24 in a transparent plastic block, the first step in accomplishin'g thisresult (Figs. 1-17) is to mount the picture in preliminary form 23 by placingsuch picture between opposite sides 20 and21 thereof and cementing these sides one to the other. Mold portion 2 is separated from mold portion 3 and preliminary form 23 with the picture enclosed therein in the described manner is placed in the block-shaped cavity 6. The mold is assembled and jaws 10 of the injection molding machine are operated to press. the faces. 4- and 5. of the. mold portion. tightlyv against one another whereupon molten plastic is forced through passages 7, gate 8 and nozzle-like passageways 9: into mold cavity 6. Themolding: operation is conducted. at a'temperature and pressure sufiicientl-y high to produce a conglomerate plastic mass in. which the.

outline of the plastic-formis obliterated. Preferably,

the temperature and pressure utilized should be only as high as necessary to erase the outline of the. plastic form, it being desirable to keep the temperature and pressure during the molding operation as low as possible so as to maintain the original shape and color of the article enclosed inthe preliminary form. It is to be. noted-that it is not necessary to reduce the preliminary'form to cased article removedand: any additional material= formedthereon is broken off the block. As already noted, the

preliminary form has a. plurality of-lugs formed thereon which space the formin a desired manner in the mold cavity thereby assuring-a predetermined position for the article in its plastic encasement according to the length. and disposition of r such lug-s.

Although the method which I have herein describedresults in' the production of a block-shaped plastic encasement, obviously any desiredfor-m of encasement may be producedin the same manner by molding the encasement in a properly shaped cavity. One modified form of cavity is shown in Fig. 20 of the accompanying drawin'gs. It should also be obvious that articles of various shapes maybe encased by myprocess merelyby adapting the preliminary form to the contourof the article to beencased. Fig. 20, for example, showsa preliminary form having-a ball- 27 enclosed therein, and Fig. 18-- shows a preliminary form enclosing a leaf '28. and aflower 29. The preliminary form of Fig. 18 is shown therein posit-ionedein the cavityof; an assembled mold preparatory to initiation of: the molding operation and the finished product is shown in Fig. 1-9.

It. will now be apparent that L have a method for producing a plastic encased article, which method contemplates firstenclosing the article in a preliminary form and then molding the article with additional material into the plastic encasement. The preliminary form is effective to protect the article fromthe heat and pressure incident to the moldingoperation thereby rendering my process particularly suitable for encasing decorative articles, the original color and shape of which must be retained. The preliminary form is provided with lugs for. spacingthe form in the. mold cavity and in this manmen a predetermined positionis assured for the-article in its-v plastic encasement.

Although I haye illustrated and described only one form, of;my, invention herein, it is. tobe. understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within thescope of. my. invention.

I claim:

1.- A method. of; producing aplastic encasedarticle comprising the'steps-of providing a preliminary form includingtwo. sections. of. cold; and. hard. fusible transparent plastic. material shaped: to, enclose said article between adjacent: sides. of. the. section. of v the preliminary form,

positioning. h article. be we n d a jacen i e of ai two sections of the preliminary form, cementing the juxtaposed surfaces of said two sections together in encircling relation to the article, thereby completely enclosing said article in said preliminary form, and molding and embedding said preliminary form in molten transparent plastic material and forming a body of a predetermined shape at a temperature and pressure only sufficient to fuse together the outer surface portions of the preliminary form and the molten plastic material so that the article is protected by the preliminary form against the heat and pressure of: the molten material and appears to have been directly molded into said plastic body, and permitting the molten material to cool and harden in situ.

2. A method of producing a plastic encased article comprising the steps of providing a two sectional prelimiriary 'form of fusible transparent plastic material adapted to enclose said article between adjacent sides of the sections of said form, said preliminary form having a plurality of lugs formed thereon to engage the walls of a mold cavity for locating the article in a desired position in the cavity of the mold, positioning said article between the adjacent sides of said preliminary form, cementing said adjacent sides one to the other thereby enclosing said article in the preliminary form, positioning said preliminary form with the article enclosed; therein in the cavity of said mold with said lugs in contact with the walls of'the mold, and molding said preliminary form with additional fusible transparent plastic material to the shape of said cavity at a temperature and pressure suflicient to fuse the outer surfaces of the preliminary form with the additional plastic material so that the article appears to have been directly molded into said plastic body.

3. A method of producing a plastic encased article comprising the steps of providing a two sectional preliminary form of fusible transparent plastic material adapted to enclose said article between adjacent sides of the sections of said form, saidpreliminary form having a plurality of lugs formed thereon to engage the walls of 'a mold cavityfor holding the form and the article therein against movement in all directions in the cavity of the mold, positioning said article between the adjacent sides of said preliminary form, cementing said adjacent sides one to the other thereby enclosing said article in thepreliminary form, positioning said preliminary form with the article enclosed" therein in the cavity of said moldwith said lugs in contact With the walls of the mold, injecting mo lte'n transparent plastic material into the cavity of-saidmold around-said. preliminary form at a temperatureand pressure suflicient to fuse the outer surfaces of the preliminary form with the injected plastic so that the article will appear to have been directly molded in its resulting plastic encasement, cooling said mold until said plastic mass solidifies to form. the finished product and removing said finished product from the mold,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,492 Matthes June 3, 1902 2,350,421 Schoder June 6, 1944 2,353,995 Conner July 18, 1944 2,354,857 Gits et al. Aug. 1, 1944 2,357,806 Borkland Sept, 12, 1944 2,376,085 Radford- May 15, 1945 2,451,913 Brice Oct. 19, 1948 2,494,834: Ringhein Jan. 17, 1950 2,615,269 Steinhardt- Oct. 28, 1952, 2,684,503 Silver July 27, 1954 

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING A PLASTIC ENCASED ARTICLE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A PRELIMINARY FORM INCLUDING TWO SECTIONS OF COLD AND HARD FUBSIBLE TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MATERIAL SHAPED TO ENCLOSE SAID ARTICLE BETWEEN ADJACENT SIDES OF THE SECTION OF THE PRELIMINARY FORM, POSITIONING THE ARTICLE BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT SIDES OF SAID TWO SECTIONS OF THE PRELIMINARY FORM, CEMENTING THE JUXTAPOSED SURFACES OF SAID TWO SECTIONS TOGETHER IN ENCIRCLING RELATION TO THE ARTICLE, THEREBY COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID ARTICLE IN SAID PRELIMINARY FORM, AND MOLDING AND EMBEDDING SAID PRELIMINARY FORM IN MOLTEN TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MATERIAL AND FORMING A BODY OF A PREDETERMINED SHAPE AT A TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ONLY SUFFICIENT TO FUSE TOGETHER THE OUTER SURFACE PORTIONS OF THE PRELIMINARY FORM AND THE MOLTEN PLASTIC MATERIAL TO THAT THE ARTICLE IS PROTECTED BY THE PRELIMINARY FORM AGAINST THE HEAT AND PRESSURE OF THE MOLTEN MATERIAL AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY MOLDED INTO SAID PLASTIC BODY, AND PERMITTING THE MOLTEN MATERIAL TO COOL AND HARDENED IN SITU. 